^. 



Lfl 346 
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Copy 1 




ap\r^^ j^ic^ 




KND 



The Gompn pchool Law 



OI= OHIO, 



<S?iS>i©>^3MS><3> 



PREPARED FOR THE 

RICE MEMORIAL COMMITTEE 

BY 

FrkdkriCk T. Wai,i.ace. 



TM« W- M. BAYN« PRINTIMa Hi 

ISSt. 



Harvey Hicre 



— AND- 



ffie (on)n)oi)5chooI j^W ^ Ohio- 



"Historicgl^ ketch, 



PRF.PARF.I) rOR THE 



J^/CE MEMORIAL COMMITTEE, 



Frederick T. Wali^ace. 



CLEVELAND, O : 

THE W. M. BAYnE printing HOUSF. 

1892. 






Written and publisluHl by order of the 

RICE MEMORIAL COMMITTEE. 

A. J. AVILLTAMS. President. 
E. S. FLINT, Treasurer. 
JOHN J ASTER, Secretary. 

IN EXCHANGE 

JAN 5 - 1915 



Hapvey J^ice, 



\ 



The death of Harvey Rice, on the 7th day 
of November. 1891, in the ninety-second year 
of his age, awakens a memory, historical and 
personal, of nearly three generations. 

His early contemporaries, compatriots and 
neighbors of the Pioneer generation had mostly 
long ago departed, leaving him the last and 
most stately oak of the forest. The present 
generation had grown up to respect and revere 
his character and person, while knowing but 
little of his public services of a half a century 
earlier, and that little only legendary — the 
records of the public journals of the State of 
fifty years ago, having passed into oblivion. 

For many of the later years of his long and 
eventful life, Mr. Rice was the president and 
inspiring spirit of the Early Settlers' Associa- 
tion, of the Western Reserve, and in that ca- 
pacity annually delivered a discourse pertinent 
and attractive, largely historical, touching inci- 
dents and events of the lives of the oldest and 
most noted Pioneers, 



— 4 



During all the years of developing pioneer 
history, Mr. Rice, with characteristic modesty, 
rarely, if ever alluded, even the most remotely, 
to his own participation in pioneer life, much 
to the reeret of his modern friends and rever- 
ential admirers. Finally, as the evening 
shadows seemed to cluster thicker and thicker 
around his noble brow, anxious friends from 
time to time urged upon him — as a legacy to 
the present generation — to waive all personal 
delicacy, and tell the world his personal his- 
tory and experiences. At the last meeting 
but one of the Association at which he pre- 
sided, he yielded to the solicitation of the 
many, and not only gratified but delighted an 
audience of more than 2,000 people by his per- 
sonal reminiscences. Though his voice had 
lost the clarion tones of his early manhood, yet 
his enunciation was so measured and emphatic 
that not a word was lost, but the narrative 
flowed on like the classic river 

"Though geiiUe, yet not dull — 
Strong though in flood, 
Without o'erflowing, full," 



— 5 



I 



flutobioi^rapt^ieal j^ddress. 



In attempting to sketch a few incidents in my own 
career, I cannot but feel that I "o'erstep the modesty 
of Nature; " yet justify myself in thinking -that what 
I have to say may have a tendency to encourage young 
men never to despair of success, who are left as I was, 
to take care of themselves in the world. 

My birth occurred June ii, i^o, at Conway, Mass., 
an incident for which I am not responsible. It brought 
with it, however, the responsibilities of my lifework. 
My father was a New England farmer of Puritanic 
ancestry. He w^as not only an industrious but an honest 
man. My mother was the " angel of the household." 
She departed this life when I was but four years old. 
Soon after her death my father discontinued house- 
keeping, and placed me in the care of strangers, who 
cared more for the compensation they received than 
for my welfare. As a matter of fact, instead of being 
brought up with parental care, I brought myself up, 
and educated myself at WiUiams College, where I 
graduated in 1824, and then " w^ent West." 

From Williamstown to Buffalo. I travelled by the 



6 — 



most expeditious conveyances then known — the stage- 
coach and canal-boat. My trip from Buffalo to Cleve- 
land was made by way of Lake Erie in a schooner, 
which, after a rough voyage of three days, cast anchor 
off the mouth of the Cuyahoga River, late at night, on 
the 24th of September, 1824. A sand-bar prevented 
the schooner from entering the river. The jolly boat 
was let down, and two jolly fellow^s, myself and a 
young man from Baltimore, were transferred to the 
boat with our baggage, and rowed b)^ a brawn}^ sailor 
over the sand-bar into the placid waters of the river, 
and landed on the end of a row^ of planks that stood 
on stilts and bridged the marshy brink of the river to 
the foot of Union Lane. Here we were left standing 
with our trunks on the wharf-end of a plank at mid- 
night, strangers in a strange land. We hardly knew 
what to do, but soon concluded that we must make 
our way in the world, however dark the prospect. 
There was no time to be lost, so we commenced our 
career in Ohio as "porters," by shouldering our trunks 
and groping our way up Union Lane to Superior 
Street, where we CvSpied a light at some distance up the 
street, to which we directed our footsteps. 

On reaching the light we found that we had arrived 
at a tavern kept by Michael Spangler, a noble-hearted 
German. The modern w^ord "hotel" for tavern had 
not then come into vogue. Five large Pennsylvania 
wagons, covered with white canvas, stood in front of 
the tavern with as many teams of gigantic horses 
feeding from cribs attached to front and rear of 
the wagons. It was a novel sight. These huge 
wagons were known in common parlance as "prairie 



\ 



^7 _. 

schooners," and were employed in transporting produce 
and merchandise between Cleveland and Pittsburgh. 
On entering the bar-room, which was lighted by a 
solitary candle, we stumbled over several teamsters, 
who la}^ fast asleep on the floor, laboriously engaged in 
complimenting the landlord with a nasal serenade. 
This was the first " musical concert " that I attended in 
Cleveland. 

In the morning, after partaking of an elaborate 
breakfast, garnished with sauer-kraut, the first I had 
ever tasted, I took a stroll to see the town, and in less 
than half an hour saw all there was of it. The town, 
even at that time, was proud of itself, and called itself 
the "gem of the West." In fact, the Public Square, 
so called, was begemmed wath stumps, while near its 
centre glowed its crowning jewel, a log court-house, 
with the jail and the jailer's residence on the lower 
floor, and the court-room in the upper story. The 
eastern border of the Square was skirted by the native 
forest, which abounded in rabits and squirrels, and 
afforded the villagers " a happy hunting-ground." 

The entire population did not, at that time, exceed 
four hundred souls. The dwellings were generally 
small, but were interpressed here and there with a few 
pretentious mansions. The chief magnates of the 
town were the valiant sons of a Puritanic ancestry, 
and of course inherited a spirit of enterprise. The}^ 
had erected an academy on St. Clair Street, in the 
upper story of which they held religious services on 
Sunday. They also encouraged trade, commerce and 
manufactures, and had established a shipyard, tanner}-, 
soap factory, and distillery, near the foot of Superior 



8 — 



Street. All this gave assurance to the town of a 
brilliant future. 

I did not emigrate from the ICa.st with the expecta- 
tion of luxuriating in this paradise of the West, but 
for the sterner purpose of fighting the battle of life. 
I came armed with no other weapons than a letter of 
introduction to a leading citizen of the town, and a 
college diploma printed in Latin, which affixed to my 
name the vainglorious title of "A. B.*' With these 
instrumentalities I succeeded, on the second day after 
my arrival, in securing the position of classical teacher 
and principal of the "Cleveland Academy." 

This proud old structure still .stands on St. Clair 
Street, and is now occupied as headquarters by the 
fire department of the city. My earthly posessions at 
this time consisted' of a scanty supply of wearing 
apparel, a few cla.ssical lext-books, and a three-dollar 
bank-note. I remained a week at Spangler's tavern 
before commencing my academical labors. On leaving 
I stepped up to the bar and asked the amount of my 
bill. " Two-fifty," replied the landlord. I handed him 
my three-dollar bank-note. He returned nie a half- 
dollar. I then engaged lodging at a private boarding- 
house, opened my school, and commenced business 
based on a solid capital of fifty cents. This I expended 
on the following day for necessary stationery. The 
only fear I had was that my boarding-house might ask 
me for money before the close of the first quarter. 
But it so happened that nothing was said about it. 
When the quarter clo.sed, I collected tuitions, paid up 
all I owed, and nobody had questioned my .solvency. 
In the meantime I entered my name as a student in 



— 9 



the law-office of Reuben Wood. Esq., and employed 
my leisure hours in study. 

In the spring of 1826 I resigned my position in the 
academy and went to Cincinnati, where I continued 
my legal study with Bellamy Storer, Esq., and expected 
to sustain myself by teaching a select classical school. 
lUit in this expectation I was disappointed, and soon 
became penniless. In order to cancel the small balance 
I owed for board and get away from Cincinnati. I sent 
the few classical text-books I had to be .sold at public 
auction, and realized less than half their value : but 
enough to ac(iuit myself of debt and pay for a deck 
passage up the Ohio River to (^allipolis, on the evening 
steamboat bound for Pittsburgh. The next morning 
I was landed with my trunk, at an early hour, on the 
.sand-beach of the river, opposite the town of Gallipolis, 
"alone in my glory." All the money I had left was 
twenty-five cents. In a few minutes a porter with a 
wheelbarrow appeared, and offered to take my trunk 
to the tavern— the best in town. '• What is your 
charge? " said I. " Twenty-five cents," said he. "All 
right," said I. "go ahead." I followed, and when we 
reached the tavern, I paid his charge and was again 
left penniless. I entered the tavern with a cheerful 
air, registered my name, and ordered a breakfast. I 
was evidently taken to be a man of some con.sequence. 
The best lodging chamber in the house was assigned 
me. After breakfa.st I retired to my chamber to 
consider what I could do to bridge over the dilemma 
in which I was placed, and save my.self from disgrace. 
The truth was I had come into town unheralded ; 
nobodv knew me. and I knew nobody. Half lost in 



— lO — 



bewilderment, I looked aboiil me. and saw a book 
with pen, ink and paper laying on the ta])le. I caught 
up the book for relief. It proved to be " Murray's 
Enghsh Grammar." In an instant the hicky thought 
struck me that I could give a course of lectures on 
grammar ; and before I had fairly digested my l)reak- 
fast, I digested a scheme of procedure ; sallied out 
into the town : secured the use of the court-house for 
a free lecture in the evening ; had a notice printed 
on tru.st; posted it myself in public places about 
town, announcing that I was the author of a new and 
philisophical method of teaching Ivnglish grammar in 
accordance with the origin and progress of language, 
and without the aid of textbooks. All this was done 
before my dinner liour. I had no time to write n 
lecture, but taught it. 

The notice I had posted up created a sensation, 
and gave me a full house. On entering the court -room 
I was invited to occupy the " judgment-seat," an 
elevation that subjected me to the .scrutinizing gaze of 
every eye. I felt the effect. ItSvas my first attempt 
to address a public audience. When I arose to .speak, 
I turned " quaker," not in creed but literally; yet 
soon composed myself, and said that everybody who 
a.spires to respectibility in writing and in conversation, 
or who desire.s to move in the circles of refined 
society, should have an accurate knowledge of gram- 
mar. I then gave the audience an inkling of my new 
and philosophical method of teaching the .science, and 
by way of illustration said that the first word a child 
utters is an interjection — as oh ! ah ! — at the sight of a 
new object: the s.-i^mr] a nonn. the iinme of tlie 



o!>ject seen — as appk- : the third an adjective, expres- 
sing^ the ([uality of the object — as sweet or sour apple. 
The other parts of speach, I said, can be as readily 
traced to their origin in the progress of language as 
those I had specified. I then concluded by saying, 
give me a class of pupils from twelve to twenty years 
of age, who have never studied grammer, and I will 
agree to teach them the science in six weeks by a daily 
lecture of two hours, at the moderate charge of three 
dollars apiece ; and in case my pupils or their friends 
are not satisfied with the result, I will make no charge. 

This was so fair a proposition that I readily 
obtained a class of thirty pupils at the close of my 
lecture. A vacant schoolroom was a.ssigned me, and 
in the afternoon of the next day I met my class and 
commenced instruction. The only book allowed was 
the luiglish reader. I began by explaining the inter- 
jection in a familiar way, and then required the class 
to t)pen the reader and point out the interjections on 
a certain number of pages. This they readily did. 
I then proceeded to explain the noun, which was 
recognized by the cla.ss almost as readily as the inter- 
jection. In this way I proceeded with the other parts 
of speech until they were understood. 

I then commenced analyzing sentences and ap- 
plying the rules of syntax, and at the end of six 
weeks found, to my surpri.se, that the class had 
acquired not only a very good but a somewhat critical 
knowledge of the Knglish grammar. I invited a 
public examination of the class. The fathers and 
mothers of the pupils and the clergymen, lawyers and 
doctors of the town attended. The examination was 



12 — 



decidedly exhaustive, yet very few mistakes v^-ere 
made. The result was pronounced satisfactory, and 
my charge for tuition was cheerfully paid. This 
success relieved me of pecuniary pressure. I have 
ventured to speak of this incident somewhat in detail, 
because I believe it to be the true method of teaching 
English Grammar. 

From Gallipolis I returned to Cleveland and was 
admitted to the bar. I commenced the practice of 
law in partnership with my friend, Reuben Wood, 
Esq., who afterwards became chief-justice, and then 
governor of the State. In the course of a few months 
I married, and paid the poor clergyman who officiated 
five dollars, all the money I had. This left me penni- 
less again ; but I thought a wife at that price cheap 
enough. She proved to be a jewel above price. Soon 
after my marriage I was employed by a gentleman, 
who had tired of the " silken tie " that bound him, to 
obtain for him a divorce. If I succeeded, he agreed to 
pay me a hundred dollars. I did succeed, and in the 
evening of the same day the divorce was granted he 
married another woman. The fee I received enabled 
me to commence housekeeping. 

In 1830 I drifted into politics, and was elected a 
representative to the legislature. Near the close of 
the session I was appointed agent by that honorable 
body to sell the Western Reserve school lands, some 
fifty thousand acres, located in Holmes and Tuscarawas 
Counties. I opened a land office at Millersburg in 
Holmes County. The law allowed me three per cent, 
on cash receipts for my services. In the first five 
days I received from .<=ales at public auction fifty 



— 13 — 

thousand dollars, and my percentage amounted to 
fifteen hundred dollars. This sudden windfall made 
me, I then thought, almost a millionaire. It was my 
first pecuniary success in life, and the first time aftei 
a lapse of eight years that I became able to pay my 
college tuition, for which I had given my promissory 
note. 

In 1833 I returned to Cleveland, and was appointed 
clerk of the county courts, a position which I held for 
seven years. In the meantime I was twice nominated 
for Congress, and in the race made a narrow escape 
from falling into the moral dangers that beset the 
footsteps of congressmen. 

In 1 85 1 I was elected to the State senate, and was 
made chairman of the committee on schools. Among 
other things pertaining to legislation I prepared and 
introduced the bill re-organizing the common school 
system of the State, which became a law and gave to 
our public .schools a high character of efficiency. I 
also introduced the Reform Farm Bill, providing for 
the care, education, and moral training of young 
criminals. This bill was, for want of time, postponed 
to a subsequent session. In the meantime my term 
as senator expired. My political friends induced me 
to become a candidate for re-election. My opponent 
was personally one of my best friends. The issue in 
the campaign wias the *' temperance question." 

My opponent w^as known as a rigid temperance 
man, and though I had voted for the most stringent 
temperance law ever enacted in the State, it got 
noised abroad that my opponent was the better 
temperance man, because he would not allow his wife 



— 14 — 

to put brandy in her mince-pies, while I, it was said, 
not only allowed my wife to put brandy in her mince- 
pies, but her pickles, too. This turned the scale 
against me, and my opponent was elected. He made 
a good senator, and took up my Reform Farm Bill 
where I had left it, and was largely instrumental in 
securing its passage and locating the Reform Farm 
School at Lancaster, where it has proved to be one of 
the most successful reformatory schools in the United 
States. 

Notwithstanding this crucial test in my political 
experience, and the seeming reason that caused it, I 
was subsequently honored with several important 
official positions which I accepted, but did not seek. 
In the various public positions in which I have been 
placed it has ever been my aim to discharge my duties 
with fidelity and without regard to selfish interests. 
If I have done anything that benefits my fellow-men, 
I shall feel that I have not lived in vain. In the 
field of literature four volumes of books on different 
subjects have been published over my signature, 
whether wisely or unwisely is not for me to say. 

Some people have reason to be proud of their 
ancestry, while others have not, perhaps, for the best of 
reasons. In regard to myself, I have only to say that 
my earliest American ancestor was Edmund Rice, who 
emigrated from Barkhamstead, Hertfordshire, Eng- 
land, to America in 1638, and settled at Sudbury, 
Mass. His family accompanied him, consisting of a 
wife and seven children. 

Barkhamstead is one of the oldest towns in Eng- 
land. It is located about twenty miles from London, 



— 15 -- 

and was founded by the Romans and occupied tor 
centuries by a mixed population of Romans, Britons, 
and Saxons. Hence a tranfusion of blood ma}' be 
inferred, and perhaps a drop or two of Roman blood 
coursed in the vains of my worthy ancestor. If so, 
his descendents may inherit a tincture of it — myself 
among the rest — who knows ? 

Be this as it may, I am what I am, and claim to be 
nothing more. I have lived to an advanced age, have 
been twice married, and am now left where I began— 
alone in the world save descendents. ■ 

Williams College, in 1871, conferred on me the 
honorary degree of Doctor of Laws— a compliment 
which I appreciate, though not vain of titles. I have 
no use for them. I look at the bright side of things, 
and am content with mj^ lot. I have acquired enough 
of this world's goods to supply my physical wants, and 
leave to my surviving children a pittance sufficient to 
equip them for the battle of life. 

I have endeavored to live uprightly, guided by 
reason and " temperance in all things." The church 
to which I belong is the church of all mankind. My 
creed is short : " Lead a pure life, and do as you would 
be done by. " If this is not sufficient, then I am 
willing to be called an agnostic. In truth, life is a 
myster3^ and longvity but a brevity. The gate stands 
ajar through which all must pass into the unexplored 
hereafter. Yet we have the assurance that the passage 
is neither dark nor perilous when cheered by the 
"star" which the wise men of old saw in the East. 
This assurance is an inspiration, and may be accepted 
as the utterance of a divine philosophy. Whoever 



-- i6 — 

attempts to fathom the "unknowable," has yet to 
learii that the finite cannot comprehend the infinite. 
Nevertheless, we are all born of the infinite, and 
must ever remain a part of it. Yet we all have a life 
that is not only immortal, but forever progressive." 



The subject of prime interest at this moment 
in this charming personal narrative, is the char- 
acteristic modesty with which Mr. Rice alludes 
to the oreat w^ork of his life, which won for him 
the pre-eminent rccoo-nition of ''Father of the 
Common School System cf Ohio!^ 

Happily the journals of the Ohio Senate 
furnish the full and complete record of the in- 
ception, draft, report, and advocacy of the 
School Bill by Senator Rice, and the vote, 
almost unanimous, by which it passed that 
body and ultimately the House, and thus be- 
came alike a law and a blessing to a generation 
of the children of the State. The full text of 
Senator Rice's speech was published in the 
Columbus StattS7na7i. The Cleveland Leader 
said editorially : 

" The School Bill, one of the most important bills 
before the Legislature, has passed the Senate substan- 
tially as it was reported by the Committee, of which 



— 17 — 

Mr. Rice, Senator from Cuyahoga County, is Chair- 
man, by a vote of 22 to 2. The bill is the result of 
much observation, care and labor, and will probably 
pass the House without material amendment. We 
take pleasure in transferring to our columns the able 
speech of Senator Rice, on the final passage of the 
bill. It gives a clear and succinct statement of the 
principal provisions of the bill, and will be read v/ith 
interest by all who have the welfare of the peoples' 
college at heart." 

It was in fact one of the most learned and 
instructive addresses ever delivered in a de- 
liberative assembly. Its clearness of statement 
and wealth of illustration is suggestive of 
Macaulay's exposition of his new civil code for 
the Government of India. It reads to-day like 
a prophecy fulfilled. The following are its 
concluding paragraphs: 

" By the provisions of this bill, it is intended to 
make our common schools what they ought to be — 
the colleges of the people — "cheap enough for the 
poorest, and good enough for the richest." With but 
a slight increase of taxation, schools of different grades 
can be established and maintained in every township 
of the State, and the sons and daughters of our farmers 
and mechanics have an opportunity^ of acquiring a 
finished education equally with the more favored of 
the land. And in this way, the elements of mind, 
now^ slumbering among the uneducated masses, like 



— i8 — 

the fine unwrouglit marble in the quarry, will be 
aroused, and brought out to challenge the admiration 
of the world. 

Philosophers and sages will abound everywhere, 
on the farm and in the workshop. And many a man 
of genius will stand among the masses, and exhibit a 
brilliancy of intellect, which will be recognized in the 
circling years of the great future, as 

" A light, a landmark on the cHffs of time." 

It is only the educated man, who is competent to 
interrogate nature, and comprehend her revelations. 
Though I would not break down the aristocracy of 
knowledge, of the present age, yet, sir, I would level 
up, and equalize, and thus create, if I may be allowed 
the expression, a democracy of knowledge. In this 
way, and in this way only, can man be made equal in 
fact — equal in their social and political relations — 
equal in mental refinement, and in a just appreciation 
of what constitutes man the brother of his fellow man. 

In conclusion, sir, allow me to express my belief, 
that the day is not far distant when Ohio, in the noble 
cause of popular education and of human, rights, will 
" lead the column," and become what she is capable 
of becoming — a star of the first magnitude — the 
brightest in the galaxy of our American Union." 

It is gratifying at this time to look back forty 
years to the first Legislature under the new 
Constitution, and observe the candor, earnest- 
ness, and unanimity of sentiment, with which 
not only legislators, but the public press of the 



19 



State, without distinction of party, greeted the 
new school law, and awarded the meed of ap- 
proval and praise to Senator Rice for his 
great and beneficent work. 

The Cleveland Plain Deale?' : *'We have been 
waitino^ a corrected copy of Mr. Rice's speech, which 
we are happy now to lay before our readers. Could 
the suggestions of the honorable senator have been 
made and heeded years ago, what a change they would 
have wrought in our moral, social and political condi- 
tion. The speech will commend itself to the attentive 
perusal and hearty endorsement of every party and 
class of people. We were pleased yesterday to meet 
our able senator. He has been an honor to his 
constituents, and we consider him one of the most 
talented and effective members of the Senate. He 
has labored hard and disinterestedly for the good of 
the people, and is entitled to their warmest thanks." 

The Cleveland Herald said : ' ' We were pleased to 
welcome home to-day our esteemed fellow citizen, the 
Hon. Harvey Rice, senator from this county. Mr. 
Rice has been a faithful public servent in all matters 
where party politics were not taken into account. 
For the School I^aw the State is indebted to his exer- 
tions. We believe Mr. Rice has been one of the 
most valuable men in the legislature." 

The Sandusk}^ Register said: "Honor to whom 
honor is due. Mr. Rick certainly deserves well of 
the people of Ohio for his manly and successful efforts 
in advancing the educational interests of the State, 



20 



Though a political opponent, we take pleasure in 
awarding him the credit due to his able and unweary- 
ing advocacy of the School Bill, recently passed. As 
a measure of public and private good, we regard it as 
the most important of any which has received the 
sanction of the Legislature for many years. It will 
be worth millions to the vState, and to the people it is 
beyond price." 

The Chillicothe Aiii'i-riiso paid the following 
tribute to SEN.vroK Rick: "His untiring and ex- 
tended labors in framing a law that would render our 
Common School System one of vast importance to the 
youth of the State, combined with his gentlemanly 
deportment, his high acquirements and legislative 
skill, seem to demand that he should be returned to 
the Senate to guard against ruthless mutilation of the 
law which cost him so much labor, and which, if 
executed in the spirit it was framed, will so much 
redound to the intelligence and honor of the State. 
To use the language of a prominent man in the State, 
' Harvey Rick is a man to whom any man could 
point with pride and .say : He belongs to our party.' " 

The 0/iio State Democrat .said : " As the author of 
the School Law, Harvkv Rice has a name and a 
fame which will render his re-election a matter of 
congratulation to the friends of education in every 
part of the State. He is a gentleman and a .scholar, 
and we cannot doubt of his success. Mr. Rick was 
one of the hard working members of the last vSenate, 
and no man in that body enjoyed more of respect and 
esteem than fell to his lot. Firm in his opinions, and 
cautious in their expression, he was one of the verv 



— 21 — 

few positive men that we ever knew who had no 
enemies." 

Such is iIk! contemporary histor) of thtj 
Ohio School Law and tlic pubhc estimation of 
the high character, wisdom and foresight of its 
distinguished author. 

The hist report of the Clevcdand Board of 
Education paid an extended and appn^ciative 
tribute to the memory of Mr. Rk k. two 
extracts from which are as folk)ws : 

" It would see;n an unpardonable neglect of a 
solemn obligation if the Hoard of Kducation failed to 
note the sad event and give expression to the common 
sorrow incident to the final departure of the eminent 
and beloved citizen, whose early devotion to the 
subject of primary education won for him the pre- 
eminent recognition of /uif/irr of the Common School 
System of Ohio ^ 

«. :!; :•: ,,; :i: :^ 'X\\^ personality of Harvey Rice 
commanded alike respect and reverence. Noble in 
stature, with a countenance reminding one of the well 
known likeness of the poet Whittier, his pleasant 
social qualities and genial spirit, awakened a sentiment 
of regard akin to affection. He was a younger con- 
temporary of the poet Bryant, whose birthplace was 
in an adjoining town, and by whose " Thanatopsis " 
aud^ other poems, his youth was inspired." 



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